Sony ... have they given up on the SLT design, or are there new models coming? Current listings show only the Beginner alpha a58, the Mid-Range alpha a68, and the Semi-Pro alpha a77 II...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Current listings show only the Beginner alpha a58, the Mid-Range alpha a68, and the Semi-Pro alpha a77 II ... wasn't there an alpha a77 III promised?

meyer

Sony ditched the "A" mount, it appears. For myself I am now done with them for several reasons which I will list.

1. Poor service and repair.
2. Poor build quality even in pro bodies.
3. "E" mount flange designed for crop cameras this
Too small for full frame resulting in lenses with
Large barrels.

MarcH Loc: Doylestown Pa

I have had terrific service when I needed it.
I have the A7ii and several excellent lenses.
Great camera

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

I have several Sony cameras, but I'm on hold till I see where they are going with A-mount - I've had no trouble with my A58, A37 or A300, and I bought them all used, and use them often. They are nice cameras and do a good job when I do my part. A-mount was a carry over from Minolta, and the Minolta cameras I had were all full-frame, that is why the larger lens barrels, they will work fine on full frame and APS-C (think sweet spot), still all work on my Minolta film cams (full frame).

lloydl2 Loc: Gilbert, AZ

Chris T wrote:

Current listings show only the Beginner alpha a58, the Mid-Range alpha a68, and the Semi-Pro alpha a77 II ... wasn't there an alpha a77 III promised?

I think you left out the full frame a99ii. I have both an a99 and a99ii and love them both. I urge do hope they continue with the a mount, time will tell.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

meyer wrote:

Sony ditched the "A" mount, it appears. For myself I am now done with them for several reasons which I will list.

1. Poor service and repair.
2. Poor build quality even in pro bodies.
3. "E" mount flange designed for crop cameras this
Too small for full frame resulting in lenses with
Large barrels.

Appearances are deceiving, Meyer ...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

MarcH wrote:

I have had terrific service when I needed it.
I have the A7ii and several excellent lenses.
Great camera

Oh, I agree with you, Marc ... the a77 II is a fine camera, as was the a77 before it ... I have both ...

Sony has issued some great lenses for it, too ... plus, there are all the Minolta (and Konica) lenses - which also fit them ...

Plus, Sigma and Tamron have a few, to fit the Sony a-mount, too ... so, there's no lack of glass, out there ...

And, of course - the a99 II is the same camera (outside) but has a FF 42MP sensor ... quite an improvement over the older a99 w/ its 24MP sensor!!!

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

olemikey wrote:

I have several Sony cameras, but I'm on hold till I see where they are going with A-mount - I've had no trouble with my A58, A37 or A300, and I bought them all used, and use them often. They are nice cameras and do a good job when I do my part. A-mount was a carry over from Minolta, and the Minolta cameras I had were all full-frame, that is why the larger lens barrels, they will work fine on full frame and APS-C (think sweet spot), still all work on my Minolta film cams (full frame).

Mikey ... I have the a58, too ... a little small, and a bit noisy, too ... but shoots some GREAT pictures - hey?

There seems to be plenty of Minolta glass around, doesn't there? ... Nice to be able to use them all on Sony a-mount cameras ...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

lloydl2 wrote:

I think you left out the full frame a99ii. I have both an a99 and a99ii and love them both. I urge do hope they continue with the a mount, time will tell.

Lloyd ... yes, you're right, but, at the time of writing, I was focused on the APS-C Sony cameras ... although, I did make no mention of that - it's true!!!

Glad to connect with an owner of BOTH the a99 and a99 II ... big difference in size, there - isn't there, Lloyd?

The later a99 II uses the same body as the APS-C based a77 and a77 II ... thus, users of those two will not notice any difference in heft ...

But the a99 was mammoth, in comparison ... can't get that one, new, anymore - more's the pity ... but there are some used ones around ...

I hope Sony continues making a-mount cameras, too ... but they're doing so well with their MILC designs, they just may be abandoning it, in their favor!!!

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

I would expect at least one more round of good A-mount. There is a willing audience - buyers are sitting in the wings - buyers with a lot of glass (I have more of it than I need!!). They have the sensors and the electronics packages. I think with a simplification of the controls (a la Fuji-style) - Mode, Shutter, Aperture, ISO and strobe, some sort of manual controls, the rest can be in menu. ChrisT and others mentioned the smallish size, I agree, for my size hand, something a little larger would be nice. They can still make relevant A-mount cameras, and although none of mine are "high end" models, they give all the control needed, and make the image I see/desire. Do I want to upgrade - yes, because I'd like a FF model, but it will come in time.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Chris T wrote:

... so, there's no lack of glass, out there ...:

There IS a lack of affordable current state of the art glass !! - Sigma and Tokina have quit the A mount entirely and Tamron is not far behind !

..

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

lloydl2 wrote:

I think you left out the full frame a99ii. I have both an a99 and a99ii and love them both. I urge do hope they continue with the a mount, time will tell.

I can't help but to agree with you fully. I also have the a99 & a99II plus the RX10-IV.

I love them both. They have given me all that I need as an amature.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

imagemeister wrote:

There IS a lack of affordable current state of the art glass !! - Sigma and Tokina have quit the A mount entirely and Tamron is not far behind !

..

Don't think Tokina EVER made glass for a-mount, did they, Larry?

Tamron issued their 16-300 for a-mount, and I do believe Sigma issued their 18-300 for a-mount ...

Yes, you are right, though, Larry ... 3rd party a-mount glass introductions do seem to have largely dried up ...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

olemikey wrote:

I would expect at least one more round of good A-m... (show quote)

Just the a58 is on the smaller side, Mikey ... the a77 / a77 II is mammoth, in comparison ... and the a99 II FF is the same body, too ...

The a99 was a much larger body ... unfortunately, you can only find them, now - on the used market ...

The update to the a77 II - the a77 III - has been promised ... but, seems a long time in coming ... it was expected, in the Spring!!!!

Sony has been busy issuing new advances on its FF MILC designs, which seem to sell well, and involved in making better sensors, and multi-axis stabilizers

... most of which, wind up in Fuji, Panasonic, and Olympus cameras ... it seems ... oh, and the new Pentax FF cameras ...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

charles tabb wrote:

I can't help but to agree with you fully. I also have the a99 & a99II plus the RX10-IV.

I love them both. They have given me all that I need as an amature.

What a difference, Charles!!!!

When you go from picking up your a99, to your a99 II, and then to your RX10 IV ... you must feel you have the weight removed from your shoulders!!!

You are a unique amateur, indeed, Charles - to have included not one, but TWO - PRO cameras, in your arsenal !!!!!

Congratulations on your wise choice of the a99 II - the camera I deem to be the BEST FF out there!!! ....